Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Sunday, April 29, 2012
The Hall of Mirrors part I
"That's lame"
Lame. Meaning uncool. Meaning out of the loop. Meaning socially remedial. And most of the time, meaning not in accordance with what everyone else is doing. Now of course take this with a grain of salt, this is my opinion, and we all know what opinions are like. Feel free to disagree. But I think this concept of "cool" is one of the defining factors in black culture. I want to examine this and how it effects the cycle of black culture and alternatively how it affects the majority culture of America.
Lame. used to be a constant retort during my high school years. Black kids talk shit about each other, it's just the way of the world. It's fun. It's funny. "Heating","Flaming","Roasting","Throwing bars" whatever you want to call it.But it's also the way that we enforce social pecking order and what trends or social norm and mores are acceptable. You come to school wearing something wack, you might get heated. You say something stupid, you might get heated. So on and so forth, until you learn how to stay under that radar or adapt to the trend.
This is pretty much how it is in both white and black culture. However, the deviation is that often time black culture has a very rigid idea of what "black cultural identity". Now of course there are outliers and deviations, but just like in all social culture there is a mainstream and then there are subcultures. In America's case, mainstream culture is defined by what we see/hear/read/ in the media for the most part. In black culture this is even more so the case.
Often times in black culture-once again this is my opinion- white culture is considered, for want of a better word, lame. The general understanding is that white people are at best slightly out of touch with cool, and at worst Screech from saved by the bell. Black culture,stemming from African slave culture and then evolving from there began by setting itself against the then, and perhaps still now, oppressive white mainstream.
By setting itself at odds against them they could then reevaluate and define their own self worth outside of the norms white racial social constructions and norms. Because of this ideal, I think that the opposition to whiteness became ingrained into black society. You see this kind of opposition in most cultural revolutions; the Beat Generation, Hippies, Yuppies,Emo,Gangsta,Scene,Goth, etc. Every subculture is created in opposition to some contrary ideal. In the case of black subculture, which of course evolved into Black Mainstream culture, the contrary ideal was whiteness.
Now were are coming to present day black culture. Which like almost all of mainstream American culture, is fueled by fossils and materialism. Early on, business found that advertising is the best way to sell their products. That's the way business works. People buy things because they think they are good, or necessary.
But as with fashion and trends, this concept has evolved, and morphed and taken root in the American subconscious. To go back to the concept of being "lame", it is centered not around buying things but around the idea of social inclusion. Human beings are social creatures, we want to feel like we belong. Companies exploit our insecurities and needs to shill us things.Black culture, built on the remnants of slave culture has an especially large slice of the insecurity pie. Our identity was stolen and thrown away, we had no homeland to unite us and at first no common language or ideals. So we created one, as I said earlier, based on our opposition to white oppression. But the irony is that we had no raw materials to work with in America to create a "new" culture,so we had to adapt things and ideas from white culture. And therein lies the birth of what I like to call "the Hall of Mirrors".
Let me add preamble by saying that I don't believe black culture to be unoriginal or completely borrowed. What I am saying is that many concepts found in black cultural identity are either taken from white culture and morphed or placed in a parallel opposition with some ideal from white culture.
In white mainstream culture today. Black culture is often "misappropriated" to sell things because black culture is seen as adversarial to the white mainstream. And as I have demonstrated, counter culture is usually seen as revolutionary and new or cool. Because black culture often times finds itself in an adversarial relationship with the white mainstream, this has in effect created something of a perpetual coolness device. Throughout history, black culture has strives to revolt against white culture and not assimilate. In contrast white culture, in certain sectors, has attempted to emulate black culture which then causes the trend/idea/style to become ubiquitous in mainstream American culture, and then "lame" in the eyes of black culture, causing a social upheaval and change resulting in a new trend/idea/style.
Of course one could argue that this happens within any culture. This is how the cogs of society turn, by revolution of convention. But I think that the American public, and black society have a special relationship with one another. I want to further examine these ideas in my next post.
Herein lies the problem.
Lame. Meaning uncool. Meaning out of the loop. Meaning socially remedial. And most of the time, meaning not in accordance with what everyone else is doing. Now of course take this with a grain of salt, this is my opinion, and we all know what opinions are like. Feel free to disagree. But I think this concept of "cool" is one of the defining factors in black culture. I want to examine this and how it effects the cycle of black culture and alternatively how it affects the majority culture of America.
Lame. used to be a constant retort during my high school years. Black kids talk shit about each other, it's just the way of the world. It's fun. It's funny. "Heating","Flaming","Roasting","Throwing bars" whatever you want to call it.But it's also the way that we enforce social pecking order and what trends or social norm and mores are acceptable. You come to school wearing something wack, you might get heated. You say something stupid, you might get heated. So on and so forth, until you learn how to stay under that radar or adapt to the trend.
This is pretty much how it is in both white and black culture. However, the deviation is that often time black culture has a very rigid idea of what "black cultural identity". Now of course there are outliers and deviations, but just like in all social culture there is a mainstream and then there are subcultures. In America's case, mainstream culture is defined by what we see/hear/read/ in the media for the most part. In black culture this is even more so the case.
Often times in black culture-once again this is my opinion- white culture is considered, for want of a better word, lame. The general understanding is that white people are at best slightly out of touch with cool, and at worst Screech from saved by the bell. Black culture,stemming from African slave culture and then evolving from there began by setting itself against the then, and perhaps still now, oppressive white mainstream.
By setting itself at odds against them they could then reevaluate and define their own self worth outside of the norms white racial social constructions and norms. Because of this ideal, I think that the opposition to whiteness became ingrained into black society. You see this kind of opposition in most cultural revolutions; the Beat Generation, Hippies, Yuppies,Emo,Gangsta,Scene,Goth, etc. Every subculture is created in opposition to some contrary ideal. In the case of black subculture, which of course evolved into Black Mainstream culture, the contrary ideal was whiteness.
Now were are coming to present day black culture. Which like almost all of mainstream American culture, is fueled by fossils and materialism. Early on, business found that advertising is the best way to sell their products. That's the way business works. People buy things because they think they are good, or necessary.
But as with fashion and trends, this concept has evolved, and morphed and taken root in the American subconscious. To go back to the concept of being "lame", it is centered not around buying things but around the idea of social inclusion. Human beings are social creatures, we want to feel like we belong. Companies exploit our insecurities and needs to shill us things.Black culture, built on the remnants of slave culture has an especially large slice of the insecurity pie. Our identity was stolen and thrown away, we had no homeland to unite us and at first no common language or ideals. So we created one, as I said earlier, based on our opposition to white oppression. But the irony is that we had no raw materials to work with in America to create a "new" culture,so we had to adapt things and ideas from white culture. And therein lies the birth of what I like to call "the Hall of Mirrors".
Let me add preamble by saying that I don't believe black culture to be unoriginal or completely borrowed. What I am saying is that many concepts found in black cultural identity are either taken from white culture and morphed or placed in a parallel opposition with some ideal from white culture.
In white mainstream culture today. Black culture is often "misappropriated" to sell things because black culture is seen as adversarial to the white mainstream. And as I have demonstrated, counter culture is usually seen as revolutionary and new or cool. Because black culture often times finds itself in an adversarial relationship with the white mainstream, this has in effect created something of a perpetual coolness device. Throughout history, black culture has strives to revolt against white culture and not assimilate. In contrast white culture, in certain sectors, has attempted to emulate black culture which then causes the trend/idea/style to become ubiquitous in mainstream American culture, and then "lame" in the eyes of black culture, causing a social upheaval and change resulting in a new trend/idea/style.
Of course one could argue that this happens within any culture. This is how the cogs of society turn, by revolution of convention. But I think that the American public, and black society have a special relationship with one another. I want to further examine these ideas in my next post.
Herein lies the problem.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Everett D's Facebook Post
Good Friend O Mine: I watched 'Goodbye Uncle Tom' last night on YouTube and it was a real eye opener for me. It helped me to see how horribly blacks were being treated by slaveowners as well as their own people during those times. So, here's a message to black Americans today: Before you try to complain about how hard life is, check this ...movie out so you can see how good life is for us compared to how life was for our African ancestors.
Another Good Friend O Mine: That's right, cuzzo! Educate 'em...
Good Friend O Mine: Hell!! Someone has to!!! A lot of us are so quick to complain about how things are hard without realizing that those before us had it much harder.
Everett D: Yeah, Black people had it much harder back then obviously. However, that does not mean that we are to be satisfied because we aren't slaves. Look at the public schools and look at where we live. Look at the regentrification. Their isn't room for complaining but their is room to voice injustice
Good Friend O Mine: Good point. However, you can't deny the fact that at least we have the opportunity to go to school, get an education, and makes our lives better. The reasons why we in general don't is beyond me. If slaves were even caught attempting to go to school, let alone reading, there would be hell to pay. It's a shame that sacrifices made before the current era are looked at in vain.
Everett: I agree with that but, the fact that we were slaves in the first place contributes to the mentalities that many Black people have today. Read the Willie Lynch letter on how to make a slave and you will see what I am talking about. In order to turn Blackc people into slave mentally you had to take away their names, separte their families, turn them against one another, and treat them like animals i.e. as if they do not have value. Now look at today: Nobody knows their history; not African American History or their own families history some don't even know who their father is. This is institutionalized by the drug laws, prison system (lack of resources results in dealing drugs which results in jail time. They get out have to put their record on a job application, dont get hired, only thing to do is to do what got me to jail in the first place because I need to take care of my family....back in jail again). We are all against each other: Light skin seen as more beautiful than dark-skin (I like a long hair-thick red bone- Lil Wayne) Poor against not so poor, South-Side vs. West-Side, GD vs BD vs. Stone vs Blood vs. Crip vs etc. (kill whoever is not apart of us). The lack of value: Blakc people do not value themselves simple because they are Black. They have to have somthing that puts value on their life. Thats why so many people feel like they have to have the latest this and that or rappers always rapping about their cars, clothes, and women; thats what makes them valuable. Nikki Minaj always rapping about being a bad bitch and how she dont look at price tags and refering to women without money as a broke bitch or a pig. We don't see the inherit value that comes with being in existence. Which explains why so many people are being killed. If I dont value my life and my blackness then you just another me that Im looking at, so why do it matter if I kill you or not? You JUST A NIGGA. But, if we all knew our history, we would understand who we are and where we come from and we would learn to value ourselves and our people. But because we don't, we allow ourselves to be disrespected on the daily, calling to and even referring to ourselves as niggas and bitches and answering to it (which is what we we're referred to as when we were slaves). Allowing the killing to take place in our communities and doing nothing about it. Nobody wants to be a snitch, with good reason because if you are found out, somebody might kill you. But, if we look into our history, the 1960's, our civil rights leaders knew that they had a very high chance of dying before they went on a protest, a march, a freedom ride, etc. But they were not afraid because they would rather die before they sat back and let themselves be disrespected and before they let the ways of that era carry over to the next generation. They died for us, Jesus style, ultimate love and sacrifice for their people and here we are killing each other and and nobody loves us enough to stand up for something to snitch to die. Which is understandable but we need to know what we are capable of. Oh, and by the way, if we go back to slave times, a "snitch" was the house slave who told the master when slaves would be running away to freedom. A snitch was someone who stopped our ancesters from being free, not someone who wanted them to feel free within their own neighborhoods, who wanted to stop the killing of their friends, famiies,a nd children; just saying because the way that the label snitch is used is misinformed and perverted. Also about all the racism that Black people have received and still are receiving today on a hidden and insitutionalised agenda is ridiculous. Do we live in a post-racial society? If you say yes, you are also answering to the question: Are you stupid? Look at the laws of our country: It is now legal to discriminate in Arizona against Mexicans. Why? Oh, because they are country and taking all of our jobs. Really? So, what about the other borders? You know, those borders that Canadiens cross, the borders that other people who are not Mexican, El Salvadorean, Cuban, etc. cross. Nothing to say about those people? Are they not coming and taking jobs? Maybe you should blame the companies who are hiring illegal immigrants and paying them less than minimum wage not those people looking to better themselves. Maybe you should blame the American companies that ship their jobs overseas for cheaper labor. OH! and since when this was YOUR country. How many of your ancestors help build it? Who are you to tell somebody they cant cross a line on thats on some land that belongs to you just as much as the next human being? Its racism, it has nothing to do with jobs or immigration. Also, the new gun laws which make it legal to have a concealed weapon. Nobody considered the amount of children that have been killed due to gun violence? If they were White children dying, that law would not have been passed and those who even wanted guns would change their tune. But, if we are killing ourselves and we don't care or seem not to then why should they? I mean, they should but why? Last thing, Black people have been oppressed since slavery. Slavery, Indentured Slavery, JIm Crow Civil rights movement, Desegregation but their is still racism. Just look around and compare where you live, what school you went to, where you shop, etc. There are not any White people in any of those places for most of us. This isn't intentional? And just to go back to the gunlaw thing. The argument is that we need guns (these are White people saying this) to protect our homes from thugs, gang-bangers, and burgulars. We need to protect our families. Now we all know that we they say thugs, gang-bangers, and burgulars what they are really saying is Black people, because over 70% of White Americans associate these negative terms with Black people. Now, if they don't live around and rarely interact with Black people who THEY not ME deem as thugs etc. What are they protecting themselves from? Their are protecting themselves from stereotypes. Because statistics show that White people have 4 times a greater chance of being victimized by another White person that a Black person. And then you have those White people who say, well a Black person robbed me or assaulted me, as if that justifies their racism. Just because a Black person victimizes a White person does not justify their racism or stereotpes. Because If I we're victimized by a White person, I would not say, "Oh okay. All White people are like this. They should make guns legal so I can shoot one whenever they are near me. What proves my point further is this: If this same White person were attacked by another White person they would not attached that stigma to White people, which shows that its racism and White people get into altercations with each other often Im sure and they don't steretype each other so why stereotype Black people? I'm done. It's long. I know. Holla.
Another Good Friend O Mine: That's right, cuzzo! Educate 'em...
Good Friend O Mine: Hell!! Someone has to!!! A lot of us are so quick to complain about how things are hard without realizing that those before us had it much harder.
Everett D: Yeah, Black people had it much harder back then obviously. However, that does not mean that we are to be satisfied because we aren't slaves. Look at the public schools and look at where we live. Look at the regentrification. Their isn't room for complaining but their is room to voice injustice
Good Friend O Mine: Good point. However, you can't deny the fact that at least we have the opportunity to go to school, get an education, and makes our lives better. The reasons why we in general don't is beyond me. If slaves were even caught attempting to go to school, let alone reading, there would be hell to pay. It's a shame that sacrifices made before the current era are looked at in vain.
Everett: I agree with that but, the fact that we were slaves in the first place contributes to the mentalities that many Black people have today. Read the Willie Lynch letter on how to make a slave and you will see what I am talking about. In order to turn Blackc people into slave mentally you had to take away their names, separte their families, turn them against one another, and treat them like animals i.e. as if they do not have value. Now look at today: Nobody knows their history; not African American History or their own families history some don't even know who their father is. This is institutionalized by the drug laws, prison system (lack of resources results in dealing drugs which results in jail time. They get out have to put their record on a job application, dont get hired, only thing to do is to do what got me to jail in the first place because I need to take care of my family....back in jail again). We are all against each other: Light skin seen as more beautiful than dark-skin (I like a long hair-thick red bone- Lil Wayne) Poor against not so poor, South-Side vs. West-Side, GD vs BD vs. Stone vs Blood vs. Crip vs etc. (kill whoever is not apart of us). The lack of value: Blakc people do not value themselves simple because they are Black. They have to have somthing that puts value on their life. Thats why so many people feel like they have to have the latest this and that or rappers always rapping about their cars, clothes, and women; thats what makes them valuable. Nikki Minaj always rapping about being a bad bitch and how she dont look at price tags and refering to women without money as a broke bitch or a pig. We don't see the inherit value that comes with being in existence. Which explains why so many people are being killed. If I dont value my life and my blackness then you just another me that Im looking at, so why do it matter if I kill you or not? You JUST A NIGGA. But, if we all knew our history, we would understand who we are and where we come from and we would learn to value ourselves and our people. But because we don't, we allow ourselves to be disrespected on the daily, calling to and even referring to ourselves as niggas and bitches and answering to it (which is what we we're referred to as when we were slaves). Allowing the killing to take place in our communities and doing nothing about it. Nobody wants to be a snitch, with good reason because if you are found out, somebody might kill you. But, if we look into our history, the 1960's, our civil rights leaders knew that they had a very high chance of dying before they went on a protest, a march, a freedom ride, etc. But they were not afraid because they would rather die before they sat back and let themselves be disrespected and before they let the ways of that era carry over to the next generation. They died for us, Jesus style, ultimate love and sacrifice for their people and here we are killing each other and and nobody loves us enough to stand up for something to snitch to die. Which is understandable but we need to know what we are capable of. Oh, and by the way, if we go back to slave times, a "snitch" was the house slave who told the master when slaves would be running away to freedom. A snitch was someone who stopped our ancesters from being free, not someone who wanted them to feel free within their own neighborhoods, who wanted to stop the killing of their friends, famiies,a nd children; just saying because the way that the label snitch is used is misinformed and perverted. Also about all the racism that Black people have received and still are receiving today on a hidden and insitutionalised agenda is ridiculous. Do we live in a post-racial society? If you say yes, you are also answering to the question: Are you stupid? Look at the laws of our country: It is now legal to discriminate in Arizona against Mexicans. Why? Oh, because they are country and taking all of our jobs. Really? So, what about the other borders? You know, those borders that Canadiens cross, the borders that other people who are not Mexican, El Salvadorean, Cuban, etc. cross. Nothing to say about those people? Are they not coming and taking jobs? Maybe you should blame the companies who are hiring illegal immigrants and paying them less than minimum wage not those people looking to better themselves. Maybe you should blame the American companies that ship their jobs overseas for cheaper labor. OH! and since when this was YOUR country. How many of your ancestors help build it? Who are you to tell somebody they cant cross a line on thats on some land that belongs to you just as much as the next human being? Its racism, it has nothing to do with jobs or immigration. Also, the new gun laws which make it legal to have a concealed weapon. Nobody considered the amount of children that have been killed due to gun violence? If they were White children dying, that law would not have been passed and those who even wanted guns would change their tune. But, if we are killing ourselves and we don't care or seem not to then why should they? I mean, they should but why? Last thing, Black people have been oppressed since slavery. Slavery, Indentured Slavery, JIm Crow Civil rights movement, Desegregation but their is still racism. Just look around and compare where you live, what school you went to, where you shop, etc. There are not any White people in any of those places for most of us. This isn't intentional? And just to go back to the gunlaw thing. The argument is that we need guns (these are White people saying this) to protect our homes from thugs, gang-bangers, and burgulars. We need to protect our families. Now we all know that we they say thugs, gang-bangers, and burgulars what they are really saying is Black people, because over 70% of White Americans associate these negative terms with Black people. Now, if they don't live around and rarely interact with Black people who THEY not ME deem as thugs etc. What are they protecting themselves from? Their are protecting themselves from stereotypes. Because statistics show that White people have 4 times a greater chance of being victimized by another White person that a Black person. And then you have those White people who say, well a Black person robbed me or assaulted me, as if that justifies their racism. Just because a Black person victimizes a White person does not justify their racism or stereotpes. Because If I we're victimized by a White person, I would not say, "Oh okay. All White people are like this. They should make guns legal so I can shoot one whenever they are near me. What proves my point further is this: If this same White person were attacked by another White person they would not attached that stigma to White people, which shows that its racism and White people get into altercations with each other often Im sure and they don't steretype each other so why stereotype Black people? I'm done. It's long. I know. Holla.
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